The dotara is one of the most important instruments used in various genres of folk music in Bengal and Assam. It has two main forms, the bangla and the bhawaiya. The bangla form originated in the Rahr Bangla region, where it is still predominantly played. It has metal strings, which give it a brighter tone than other instruments played in the area.
Although a dotara can have 4-5 strings, most playing is done primarily on two strings, hence the name.

The bhawaiya form is almost extinct in contemporary times, that has a more primeval beginning[clarification needed] than its bangla cousin. Again the strings are its striking feature, being made either of thick cotton, silk or more popularly of catgut, giving it a more bass-rich tone. This instrument is widely used in eastern folk music forms such as the Bhhawaiya - of which the Goalpariya is a relatively well known subcategory - the Mahishali, and the Baul forms prevailing in and around the Bengal Province, including areas in Assam and East Bihar.

The dotara is a plucked stringed instrument, played in an open note combination, often played alongside folk percussive instruments such as Dhol, Khhol or Mandira. It is made out of neem or other hardwood, with an elongated, roundish belly for a sound box, which tapers to a narrow neck culminating in a peg box which is often elaborately carved in the shape of a peacock-head, swan-head or other animal motif. The fingerboard is fretless and made of brass or steel, as in a sarod. The sound box of the instrument is covered with a tightly stretched kidskin or lizard-skin, as in a rabaab or a sarod.

With four strings, the dotara is tuned as follows (from top to bottom)--Soh(lower)-Do-Do-Fah. The Indian notation would read: Pa - Sa - Sa - Ma with Do/Sa being the tonic/root note of the song.

Dotara is one of the rarest musical instruments of the world today. The instrument is a string instrument played by local caste musicians in Bengal (India). The body of the instrument is carved from mango tree log and goat skin is pasted on its belly. It consists of total 4 strings in which steel wires are used. It is a strumming instrument played with the help of a special plectrum called Jawa, made up of coconut shell.

Do means two and tar means string in Hindi. 6"x30". The two strings can be made to give a range of tones by applying pressure at various points along the neck. Simple and fun to play. This is a folk instrument made in the central coastal State of Maharashtra. The soundboard is goat skin is tightly stretched over an opening cut in the pumpkin gourd body. A bamboo shaft which serves as the neck One strings is (are) stretched from a hook at the end of the gourd, over the bridge, to the tuning peg at the end of the bamboo shaft.

Ek means one and tar means string in Hindi, Do means two. The two string, bass is called a Dotar. The strings can be made to give a range of tones by applying pressure at various points along the neck. Simple and fun to play. This is a folk instrument made in the central coastal State of Maharashtra. The soundboard is goat skin is tightly stretched over an opening cut in the pumpkin gourd body. A bamboo shaft which serves as the neck Two strings are stretched from a hook at the end of the gourd, over the bridge, to the tuning pegs at the end of the bamboo shaft.

Do means two and tar means string in Hindi. The two string, base is called a Dotar. This delux Dotar has brass decorations. The strings can be made to give a range of tones by applying pressure at various points along the neck. Simple and fun to play. This is a folk instrument made in the central coastal State of Maharashtra. The soundboard is goat skin is tightly stretched over an opening cut in the pumpkin gourd body. A bamboo shaft which serves as the neck Two strings are stretched from a hook at the end of the gourd, over the bridge, to the tuning pegs at the end of the bamboo shaft. Lengths and pegs may vary.